Where did potato chips, crunchy snack we all love, originate?

Who can resist the temptation of crisp potato chips, one of the world’s most favourite snacks? Potato chips come either deep fried or baked. Apart from the basic plan salted variety, flavoured chips are made by seasoning them with herbs, spices, cheese etc.

Potato crisps originated at a restaurant in New York in 1853. One day a diner refused to eat French fries because they were too thick. George decided to teach him a lesson. He made the crisp so thin that it was impossible to cut it with a fork. But unexpectedly the diner loved it. Soon the chips were in great demand. The invention of the mechanical peeler in 1920s made production of potato chips easier.

For long, salt was supplied in a sealed packet along with the chips, to be added when required.

In the 1950s, Joe “Spud” Murphy, the owner of an Irish crisp company, called Tayto, developed a technology to add seasoning, and produced the world’s first seasoned crisps. They were seasoned with cheese and onion and salt and vinegar.

Joe’s innovation became an overnight sensation, and many big potato chip companies in the United States made a beeline to Joe’s Tayto to purchase the rights to use the technology. In 2003, Pringle’s introduced coloured chips. The following year they came out with crisps each printed with a trivia or a joke.

What a Record!

The world’s largest potato chip was made in 1991, by engineers working for a leading FMCG company in the U.S., and the owners of a renowned brand of chips.

The chip measured 63.5cm x 35.6cm, and equalled the size and content of 80 regular chips made by the company. It contained 920 calories. It is on display at the World Potato Exhibit in Idaho, U.S.

 

Picture Credit : Google